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WE Fest opens Thursday at Soo Pass

A jam-packed lineup of country music's finest will take the stage at Detroit Lakes' Soo Pass Ranch this coming week, as the 27th Annual WE Fest opens Thursday, Aug. 6. "The Stars Will Shine in '09," with headliners including Toby Keith on Thursday, Brooks & Dunn on Friday and Tim McGraw on Saturday. Others scheduled to perform include Sawyer Brown, Trace Adkins, Kellie Pickler, Taylor Swift, Craig Morgan, Clint Black and Big & Rich. For questions concerning tickets, or general information about the festival, call 800-493-3378, visit www.wefest.com or direct e-mail messages to wefest_tickets@yahoo.com.

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Elmo, the lovable red monster, will bring his Sesame Street pals along for two final performances of "Elmo's Green Thumb" at the Fargodome, at 1 and 4:30 p.m. today (Sunday). Tickets are $14, $17 and $20, with a limited number of $24 Gold Circle seats also available. The Fargodome is located at 1800 North University Drive in Fargo. For more information, call 701-241-9100. To charge tickets by phone, please call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com. For more information about the show, go online and visit www.sesamestreetlive.com.

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The Tuesdays in the Park summer concert series continues this week with a live performance by The Purple Pan Steel Drum Band Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. in the DL City Park Bandshell. It is a free show, and open to the public. Upcoming performances include Ulen Community Band, Aug. 11; Doc & the Scrubs, Aug. 18; and the Lakes Area Community Concert Band, Aug. 25. Before each Tuesday's concert, Thrivent Builds for Habitat will also have a picnic fund-raiser, grilling up fresh burgers and brats for sale at the shelter near the bandshell from 6 to 7 p.m. Call 218-844-SHOW (7469) for more information.

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Hubbard's Long Lake Theatre presents the opening performance of its new production, "Dearly Departed," at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, followed by the Opening Night Gala at the Jewel of the Northwoods Bed & Breakfast. The show continues at the theater through Aug. 29. Call 218-732-0099 for reservations, or visit the Web site, www.longlaketheater.net.

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Jasper's Theater performs a great family entertainment show filled with music, magic and comedy every Thursday at 3 p.m. and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. through Aug. 22. A magic pre-show is 15 minutes prior to each show. For reservations call 218-237-4333 or visit the Web site, www.jasperstheater.com. The theater is located one mile east of Park Rapids on Highway 34.

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The Becker County Museum is hosting Kids Days in August. Stop in each Thursday during the month of August for great activities for kids. Parents, grandparents and daycare providers are encouraged to stop in anytime from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays to explore the Becker County Museum together with your kids. On Aug. 6 the activities will feature "Minnesota History Madness." Aug. 13 centers around the "Tale of Old Three Legs." Aug. 20 will be "Pioneer Days," bringing you back to the days of log cabins, horses and trips to the general store. The month's activities end Aug. 28 with "I Spy at the Museum," as participants search the museum for scavenger hunt clues. Call 218-847-2938 for more information, or visit beckercountyhistory.org online.

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Tamarac Wildlife Refuge offers a guided tour from 10 a.m. to noon every Thursday through the end of August. Join a refuge ranger for a fun and informative adventure on the refuge. Search for wildlife and learn about the cultural and natural history of Tamarac.

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Like cicadas in August, musicians will once again be all abuzz at the Hoot Owl Resort in Waubun this month, as the Borderline Philharmonic annual concert is set for Friday, Aug. 7, at 8 p.m. The free concert of classical orchestral works takes place in the resort's upstairs Concert Loft. Doors open at 7 p.m. For more information, please contact Hoot Owl Resort owner Bill Fritze at hootowl@arvig.net, 218-734-2245, or 1-800-635-2157.

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The rise of the loon is approaching in Vergas. Looney Daze 2009 is set for Aug. 13-16, starting with the the 24th Annual Miss Vergas Scholarship Pro-gram and the 11th Annual Miss Altona Scholarship Program on Thursday, Aug. 13 in the Vergas Community Center. The pageant starts at 7 p.m. Friday's sidewalk sales and rummage sale will give way to Saturday's 5k run/walk, kids' tractor pull, road race, loon calling contest and Vergas Kids Got Talent contest. There will be a street dance at 9 p.m., featuring music by Lamont Cranston. Sunday festivities include the grand parade at 2 p.m. and downtown turtle races at 3:30 p.m.

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A new art exhibit opened July 29 at the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center, featuring two Alexandria artists. Ellen Eilers is a 92-year-old painter whose work recalls the style of Grant Wood and American Regionalism; and Roxanne Sorensonis a sculpture artist who also has the distinction of being a past finalist in the Great American Think-Off at the Cultural Center. The exhibit will be on display through Wednesday, Sept. 2. Admission is free. Call 218-385-3339 for more information.

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The visit of the Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall at the Chas. D. Center VFW Post 3289 in New York Mills, originally scheduled from June 3-8, has been postponed to Sept. 10-13. All programs and activities scheduled during those dates have been rescheduled as well. For more information, contact VFW Post 3289 in New York Mills at 218-385-3510 or the ITOW Veterans Museum in Perham at 218-346-7678. For more information call 218 385-3510 or 218 346-7678 or visit ITOWmuseum.org.